New Team Member Spotlight: Brian Barragan
Our family here at South Coast Medical Group OC is growing. Meet our new Physician Assistant, Brian Barragan!
Brian was born in Santa Monica, California and has lived in Southern California for the majority of his life. As a son of an LAPD Police Officer, Brian developed a strong work ethic, discipline, and passion for serving others at a very young age. As a child, Brian played multiple sports; baseball, soccer, and basketball. Sports taught him the invaluable skills required for developing a successful team and more importantly, the value of altruism: placing others before yourself.
Brian attended Mission Viejo High School, where he excelled in the classroom and in baseball. The experience gave him the perseverance to always strive to be the best and proved to him that hard work pays off.
After high school, Brian attended Saddleback Community College for three years then transferred to California State University at Fullerton (CSUF). At CSUF, he developed his love and passion for science. He graduated with an Undergraduate Degree in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Clinical Exercise Science.
Brian took a job as a physical therapist aid during his senior year at CSUF and assisted in the rehabilitation of sports-related musculoskeletal injuries. Around the same time, he also worked as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), at 24-hour Fitness. Brian eventually chose to be a full-time CPT, providing training sessions for over 10,000 clients within a span of 10 years.
As a CPT, Brian’s fascination with science and the human body grew exponentially. He had always contemplated the possibility of a career in the medical profession. He decided to become a Physician Assistant (PA-C). Brian graduated from Western University of Health Sciences, with a Master’s Degree of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. During his time there, he developed a passion for both Family Practice and Urgent Care. Being able to treat these patients allowed Brian to take advantage of his strengths, relative to acutely managing patients in both the Urgent Care and Family Practice settings.
Brian’s passion has always been managing chronic conditions, not only through medicine but also through patient education and lifestyle modifications. More specifically, the care provided to an individual patient, resulting in maximizing one’s health and creating the outcome desired.
Brian has a passion for anything related to fitness and nutrition. On his time off, he enjoys Cross-fit, trail running, hiking, strength training, snowboarding, and anything related to the outdoors. He is also participating in multiple slow-pitch softball leagues.
Brian hopes to have a positive impact on as many people’s lives as possible, by providing competent individualized health care and promoting a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle.
We are so thrilled to have Brian on our team! He is a brilliant addition to South Coast Medical Group OC.
